One of the trends in painting, which also developed in sculpture, was figurativism. Its main feature was the attempt to imitate all objects in their natural size. This applied both to inanimate objects and living organisms. Figurative painting may be regarded as the reverse to abstractionism. Over the decades art has changed its appearance, deriving from the successive artistic trends depending on location. Figurative painting developed in the United States and Europe.
Figurativism developed in the first half of the twentieth century. It was again in good graces, though in a refreshed form, in the seventies. The subjects of figurative paintings was primarily urban life and entertainments of its inhabitants. The pictures show strongly marked contours and intense colors. Artists were not afraid to combine different arrangements. The richness of the composition and controlled chaos in the picture is also characteristic, it forces to reflect on the intention of the author.
Figurative painting includes portraits of famous and ordinary people. It is easy to observe a reference to a well-known social motives in the paintings. Above all, figurative art is industrial painting, showing the magnitude of constantly emerging agglomerations.
In the second half of the twentieth century, some painters returned to the principles of figurativism. Inner experiences of man was of primary importance. Humans' concerns were presented through a variety of deformities and symbols.